ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATIONS & PERMITS 

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

New developments or the upgrading of existing projects have to be undertaken within the framework of environmental and planning legal requirements - usually in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). An EIA requires the consideration, investigation and assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts.

All possible impacts have to be identified and incorporated into the planning framework at the very inception of a development project to identify and prevent environmental issues that could arise and cause delays and unnecessary expenditure. Legal objectives and requirements and the vested rights of the project proponent also have to be established in advance.

Proper planning facilitates the smooth progress of an authorising process. This is particularly necessary in large multi-disciplinary projects that involve many experts and consultants. Duard Barnard and Associates steer authorisation processes within the environmental legal framework, regardless of whether or not a formal authorisation is prescribed.  

The amount and depth of information required for a competent application has to be determined and experts commissioned to undertake specialist studies. Their terms of reference have to be determined to ensure that no money is wasted on researching unnecessary information. Steering an authorisation also entails the establishment of a paper trail that provides proof of legal compliance in all stages of project development.

A further task that could be undertaken is the compilation of the final Impact Assessment Report that has to be submitted to the authorities. It should be a logical and coordinated document that integrates and presents all the salient facts and viewpoints on the proposed development and satisfy the authorities that the project meets all sustainability requirements. After approval of a project the firm is also able to assist with drafting the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to ensure that implementation takes place in line with sound environmental legal principles.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Environmental legislation requires that the public should be involved in decision-making, which entails the establishment of structures that will ensure effective communication between the developer, government agencies and all stakeholders. Duard Barnard & Associates advises on public participation processes on behalf of the developer in coordination with other consultants. Public participation programmes should be steered effectively, without allowing a waste of time or the deployment of unacceptable hidden agendas.

A constructive community approach is followed to involve the public, especially affected publics to try and neutralise possible confrontation. Members of the community are enlisted as members of the planning team in an effort to search for constructive solutions that can be incorporated into the planning process.